Amos p



A. F. DIXON.

SELECTIVE SYSTEM rm-ucmou HLE!) IULY 2,19l'l,

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

lnven/or: Amos F D/Lvdn Affy colnisc, iiilil exact iloscrun: l!

i install and maintain tho luplo AMOS F. DIXON, (FF EEWABK; NEW JERSEY,

COMPANY, INGOHEQSRTED, 033 NEW YORK, N. Y.,

YURK.

ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN masonic n oonronnzrmn on NEW SELECTIVE swarm.

Application tiled July 2,

To (if! 414mm if may concern:

Bo it known that L Anus F. l)ITiu2- n (itizon of tho Unitrti F tntwi, residing at Newark in the count of ,T\' :Utt'i .itnto of Now Joisojv haw inwirrtm'i (Tiltttiil not? and ust-tul linprm'onwnts in lrloloclii'i-i S 'stoms oi which the followi a. full, clonix v This iuvontion relates to izlvctrinn zclmnical selective systems more particuiarly those suitable for use in printing telegraphy.

(1n telegraph lines carrying considerable traflic, it is a common. prznrticc to supply duplex liriilgzo apparatus, The maintenance of this apparatus is at tinivs trouhlesiimio,

especially in tho casr of aerial lines Where the insulation IC'SlSi'iHHP oi the line is varialolia making! it ililiicnlt zit tinirs to maintain sntisl-ai'toi'y oporation rlilil it is often cheaper to ouiploy two siu'mratn lino wires than to X hriilgo apparatus. Espwially s this true in tho cast? of lines conncctwl to branch olliz'cs when: the

transmission lllltfil are relatively short in length.

r It is the principal object of this invontion to provide a system particularly suitaiiio for tn'oway working on short lines ancl one in which not only is the duplex lmlnncc apparatus oliininntqil. hat also min in which simplified arraugcninnt prorii so a further reduction in apparatus.

Another ohjcvt is to provide 1 simplified system which does not rsi' uiro the use ot synchronizing: apgmratus at cithoi' station.

To accomplish tln-so objects tho invention contrinplatos at ono of the stations, the use of a roustautl ill'liT-il primary alistriliutor zitlaptml to i'lpornto with a iilii'tlll iontrollr-r or antomnti" transmitter to plow cur-rant. inipiilsos on the lion. sand with a i'ti'QlfllllCf mni-hanisni to (listriliutc tho linj ulsvs rc (tlYHl oi'r-i' 1hr lino anrt reward the charm-tor living scloi'twl. it tho oilwr station Hillary ilistiiiuitcr in Elwyn; aiia it (nope-rah .iilli on hitting inai' ainl a 'roi'i-ii'i' monitor to that last-ii Kill? the primary i' liici'trivall mntrollrtl moans are iirovhlwl to restore the (H11Ll:1l (listi'ihutcr to its uorniai co'mlitiun at tin: (nil l at r illilttii.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr 12, 1921. 1917. Serial 1%. 175,225.

therefore no synchronizing apparatus is requirod to keep thetwo distributors in per test stop. r

The several features of this intention may ho more clearly understood. by reference to tho accompanying drawing which discloses spec' embodiment particularly ariaptorl for use in printing telsgrnphy. In the arrangcinout illustrated anti tlsorihod, the system is designedfor operating by the well-known Bandot code of various combinations of five positive and negative impulses, but it will of course he. understood that othor codes can he used equally well without in any way departing from the spirit of thr Invention. 7

Messages passing in one direction, such as from station A to station B, are always carried over one wire L and all. messages passing in the opposite. direction from station B to station A are carried over the other who L At station A, which in the case of branch oflice working is preferably the central otlico station, are located the controller or transmitter 1 for selectively influencing the flow of current over the line, the receiving apparatus 2 consisting of selecting magnets which on operation move a disk or perform some other function in connection with the recording of the character which lining selecteti. and the primary distributor. whlrn in this case is shown as rotary distributor 3, receivs the outgoing impulses from the transmitter and distributes them to the line and simultaneously roccii es and distributes to the various selecting magnets the incoming impulses IOCGlYtd' from the line. Tho transmitter l whi h may be con trolled by means (it any conwnient apparatosi. sin-in tor omnrple as character keys arrangrmi on the kc lloaril of: a typewriter or an automatic mvohanisn: controlled by a iltll ll'illfi fl tail-c or the lilo. nnsists ot a ihnnlity oi poloc ningoi's :l, G. 7 and 8, oai'ii of which has its niovahlwcontact monincr pornianontly onncctewl to onc ot' the outer sogmonts 9 l 11. 12 anll l3. respectively. of the rotary distributor it These mo ahlo l lliiitfii' lntmlilel'f orn ailziptvd to nlovr. ilitlttpfillflll tlilll' of each otiacr and when mortal t the lo engage iixori' mntacts which are connected to the positive toi'ini- Hail-S of a source of current 14, the no native terminakot which is grounded. l'hcn spective y moved to the right, these movable members engage another series of fixed contacts which are joined to the negative terminal of a sguroe of current 15, the positive tenninal of which is grounded.

The rotating arm 16of distribiiter- 3 is,

arranged to be driven constantly in a counter-clockwise direction by means of a motor or any similar mechanism (not On the outer extremity of this arm is located an insulated section provided with abrush 17 connected to the line wire L and adapted on rotation of the arm to wipe over and contact with the segments 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 connected with the ole-changers as described above. On the ace of thedistifibuter and radially in line with the above mentioned segments are the inner segments 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 which are permanently connected to the receivin magnets 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27, re-

hese inner ments are engaged by a brush 28 carrie on another in- ,sulated section of the rotating arm 16. The

mner portion of this arm is grounded and carries a brush adapted at the end of each revolution to make contact with the segment 29 which is permanently connected through the "winding of relay 30 to a grounded source ofcurrent 31.

At station B there is distributor of the Serial No. 869,333, together with transmechanisms similar The sending and reendin' application, sled o tober 29, 1914, mitting and receiving to those at station A. ceiving sets of switches for this distributer comprise a plurality of contact springs 32, 3e, 34 35, 36, 37, as, 39, 40 and 41, separated by suitable insulation and secured to any desired form of support. One spring of each of the sending switches 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 is connected to the movable contact member of the pole chan ers 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, respectively, the fixe contacts of these ole changers beingconnected to ground. The. other springs of these switches are joined together electrically and connected to one of the line wires. One spring of each of the receiving switches 37 to 41, is connected to the front contact spring 47 of relay 48, while the other contact springs are connected to the selecting magnets 49, 50,

51, 52 and 53, respectively. These selecting magnets are arranged to move a disk or per form some other function in connection with recording the character being selected in the same manner as the selecting magnets 23 to 27, at station A The sending switches 32 to 36, inclusive, and the receiving switches 37 to 41, inclusive, are so arranged and coiiperate with a suitable mechanism in such a manner that they are successively operated to produce sion member and distribute the efl'ects of current impulses.

his operation is brought about by means of an electromechanically operated member 54, provided with a plurality of pins 55, 56, 57,

of switches 32, 37, 33, 3e; 34, as; 35, 40;

frame normally forces this member, if the I electromagil iet 61 is' energized, against the stop 65. he actuating member 54 is provided with a downwardly extendin portion 66, which is adapted to engage t e different steps of member 63. A stop and elevatin lever 67, pivotally supported in a suitable i ramewor also engages the steps of member 63 and coiiperates with actuatin member 54 for a purposeand in a manner to be presently explained, The sets of switches 32 and 37 to 41, inclusive, onl one pair made up of one switch from sac set is in the same horizontal plane, each succeeding set being lower than theone preceding by an amount sufficient to cause the corresponding pins 55 to 59, inclusive, to engage the proper pair of switches as the extension member 66 moves down the steps of member 63. In other words when member 66 rests on the upper step of member 63, as shown only pins 55 can be active and engage the switches 32 and 37. When member 66 is moved down. one step only pins 56 can engage their coiiperating switches (33 and 38), while the remaining pins are either above or below their 005;)- erating switches and are .consequentl) inactive. On the next lower step, switches 34 and 39 may be acted upon by pins 57 and so on for the remaining pins and pairs of switches.

When the electromagnet 61, which controls the downward as well as theforward and backward movements of actuating member 54, is denergized with the rest-of the apparatus at normal, pins 55 en agevand close the switches 32 and 37 while t 66 rests upon the upper step to 36, inclusive,

of member 63 nation of electromagnet 61, 37 are opened and the movement ing bar 54 causes member 66 to drop oil the upper step onto the next lower step of member 63.

When electromagnet 61 is again denerare arranged so that r a restoring means nausea gized, the spring of its armature 6O retracts actuating memberfid and since. the extension member 66 is on a lower step than before,

ins 56 engage and close switches 33 and 38. After the first attraction oi armature 60, upon each deenergization of electromagn'ct 61, the spring of armature 60, in moving the member 54 forward to close the proper switches, also causes the extension member 66 to move member 63 backward against the force of its sprin at until the lever 67 drops down one step. hereafter, upon the energization of electromagnet 61, the return movement of member 63 due to its spring 64, is .arrested by the engagement of lever 67 and one of the steps.

readily apparent that member 63 is moved step in step from its normal position upon each eenergization of electromagnet 61 and is held in its advanced position upon each energization thereof by lever his change in movement con inues for each en ergization and deenergization of electromagnet 61. It is therefore readily apparent that the successive actuation of the switches is due to a plurality of zig-zag movements of the actuatin' member 54, which movements being ana yzed are resolved into backward, downard and forward components.

In order to return the actuating member 54 to normal after each group oi impulses,

is provided, consisting o provided with a pivoter an electromagnet 68 from the armature 69 normally held away core by gravity ant the spring 70. Upon energization of electromagnet 68, the armature extension member 71 is elevated, causing the pins 72 and T3 to engage and raise the lever 67 and the actuating member 54. respectively, thereby freeing the member 63 and allowing it to be restored-,to its normal position against the stop by the tension of the spring 64. I

The cnergiaation of the clectromagnet Cd is controlled either by relay 48 through its grounded armature it or by relay 75 through its grounded armature 76. lhe windings of these relays are connected in parallel between one side of the line and ground. Relay 48 is polarized to respond only to current impulses of positive polarity. whereas relay 75 responds only to urrent impulses of negative polarity.

Belay 48 is provided with a second armature 77 connected to a grounded source of energy 78. The front contacts of armature -74 of. relay 48. and armature T6 of relay '75 are connected through the windings oi elcctromagnct 61 to a grounded source of energy 79 and a restoring circuit now to be described.

\ In order to return. the apparatus to norfitjswitches 36 and 41, are also arranged mill at the end of each succession of no pulses. pins 59. in addition to closing to joined together electrically and It will, therefore, be

pole changers 5,

close a switch 80, the contact s ring of this switch being connected to the iront contact of armature T4, while the other is connects to a grounded source of energy 81 throng the winding and the movable contact 82' of the restoring relay 83. This relay is provided with a pair of armatures 84 and 85 connected to ground through the back contact of armature 86 of the clearingout relay 87. One terminal of the winding 0 relay 87 is connected to a grounded source of current 88, thc other terminal being connected to the back contact 89 of a switch operated by the movement of armature 65) of clectromagnet 68, and having its movable member 90 grounded. The front contact of armature 8% of relay Bil is connected through the windings of elcctromagncts 68 and 61 in series to the grounded source of current 79. A better understanding of the system may be obtained by following the successive operations taking place during the transmission and receiving of current impulses rcprcsenting the various characters. To do this, let it be assumed that the system is in operation and station A is about to send the charactcr D over the line to station The letter 1) in the llaudot code consists of five current impulses arranged in the following order: positive, negative, negative, positive, negative. The transmitter 1 at station A is therefore operated so that the movable contacts of pole. changers 4 and 7 engage the fixed contacts at the left, which are connected to the positive terminal of a grounded battery 14, whercas'the movable contacts of 6 and 8 engage the fixed contacts at the right which are connected to the negative terminal of the grounded bat- 15. The operation of these pole changers ma be brought about by various means, such or example, as the operation of a character key on an ordinary typewriter keyboard or by the use of a perforated tape. lVith the transmitter operated as described, the segments 9 and 12 of rotary distributor 3 are connected. to positive battery and segments il 11 and 13 are connected to a battery of negative polarity. As the arm 161btates in a counter-clockwise direction. the (inter brush 1.7 will contact with segment 9, thereby completing a circuit from grounder battery l4 through pole-changer l. scgnicnt 9, brush 17,, line wire 1 and the windings of relays 48 and T5 connected in parallel to ground. Tllc relay is being polarized to respond only to negative impulscs will not be aiicctcd. but rclav 48 which responds to )USlliVL impulses will he energized, causing thc attraction of its armutures 74 and T7. The operation of armature T7 provides a path for current flow from the grounded source of energy 79 through the contacts of switch 37 and the selecting magnet 49, thereby permitting the latter to perform its func tion in connection' with the recording of the character being selected. s armature 74 en gages its contact, a circuit is the gr ture 74 to ground. Electromagnets 61 there- 'upon attracts its armature 60 to which is y 48 aiid75 in parallel to ground.

pivoted the actuating bar 54 and causes the opening of both switches 32 and 37. F'irther movement of the bar 54 allows the extended portion 66 to drop down on the next lower step of member 63.

As the brush 17 leaves segment 9 of rotor distributor 3, the relay 48 is denergized, a lowing its armature to fall back and in so doing cause the det nergization of electromagnet 61. The armature 60 is then drawn back by its spring and a lower step than before, pins 56 engage and close switches 33 and 38.

The next operation takes place when brush 17 engages the segment 10 0t rotary distributor 3. A circuit is then completed from the grounded source of energy through pole-changer 5, segment 10, brush is windings of relays Since relay 48 responds only to currents of positive be affected in the present case and no circuit will therefore be pro videdthrongh the selector magnet 50. However, relay responsive to cur- 1T,-line Wire L and ti 75, which is rents of negative polarity, will be energized attracting its armature 76 and thereby propath to ground for the source of energy 79 through the winding of electromagnet 61. The attraction of armature 60 allows the member 66 to drop down another step on the member 63 and also to open the switches 33 and 38. As the brush 17 leaves segment 10, relay 75 is deenergized, in turn deiinergizing electromagnet 61, allowing the armature 60 to be retracted and thereby causing the closure of switches 34 and 39 by the pins 57. The operation of the apparatus u )0 the third impulse which is transmitted W ion the brush 17 Wipes over 0 g pins 58.

the same described. The extended portion 66 of actuating bar 54 is dropped down another step on member 63 and at the end of the operation, switches and are closed by the The selecting magnet 51 remains unoperated.

As the brush l'i'icontacts with segment 12, current of positive polarity flows over the line, operating the relay 48 and attracting its armatures 74 and 77. The attraction of armature 77 closes the circuit from the grounded source of energy 78 through armature 77, switch 40, and selecting magnet 52, causing the latter to operate and perform its function in recording the character. B the attraction of armature 74, the electrosince member 66 is on.

as that for the second impulse inst the holding circuit rotation, the grounded brush attraction of armature causes the move- 7 0 ment of actuatin bar 54 and results in the opening of switc es 35 and 40. A further movement of this bar allows the extended portion 66 to drop on the next lower step of member 63 so that upon of electromagnet 61, the pins 59 are in engagement with switches 36, 41 and 8G. The lastimpulse of the group set u transmitter 1 is sent over the line brush 17. engages segment 13. the source of energy 15 of negative polarit causes the energization of olarized relay 75.. The operation of this re ay again energizes electromagnet 61, due

when

current from the source of energy 79 through 35 its armature 85 is attracted, causing it to engage the gcircuit to the switch 80. At the same time, we hovvever, a holding circuit movable contact 82 and open the from source of current 81 83, movable contact 82 arma- 83 and armature 86 of clear the relay 83 through relay ture 85 of relay ing-out relay 87 and to ing circuit makes the restoring paratus positive and indepen ent of t length of time during which switch 80 remains closed. i

As the brush 17 leaves segment13,-relay m is dciiuergized. However, relay 83 re mains operated, providing a path i" rent flow from source of the windings of electromagnets 61 and 68 in series, armature 84 of relay 83 and armature 118 earmature of and causes the and step mem- 86 of relay 87 to ground.

electromagnet 68 is attracted return of the actuating bar 54 her 63 to their contact 90 to engage with the' fixed contact 89', thereby providing a path to round from the source of ener 68 througi the "windin of relay 8?. pon the ener ization of. rclhy 87, armature 86 is attractei openin through relay 83' an restoring condition. 4 arm 16 eontini esi'n its thereby causing the return to its normal As the distributor deenergization 75 In this case,

of relay is provided for ground. This hold of the ag- Y initial positions. 'The opera-' lJlOlI of armature 69 also causes the movable 12 apparatus to v V 91 wipes over 1313,

oi a succession of five current impulses arranged as regardspolarity in the following order: positive, negative,' negative, positive, negative." The setting of the transmitter to give this arrangement of impulses r'nuy he obtained by any of the well-known means as, for example, the operation of a character key on' anj'ordinary typewriter keyboard, or

by'ii'ieaiis ofa perforated tapeworking in conjunction with an .automaticsending mechanism. To-transmit the desired series of impulses, the movable contacts of polcchangers 42 and45 are displaced to the-left, engaging fixed contacts which are connected to ground. The movable contacts of pole changers 4.3, Aland 46 will remain unope'rated.'

' Itfhas already been pointed out that in the normal position of the distrihuter at station B, the switches 32 and 37' are engaged by the pins 55; therefore, with the movable core tact of polechunger 42 engaging its grounded contact, a path is provided for current flow from the grounded source of energy. 92, located at station A, through the winding of relay 93 and-over the line Wire L to switch 32 and thence to ground through polechanger 42. The energization of relay 93 causes its armature 94 to be attracted, there- .by connecting the grounded source of ener 12nd 21,, 13 and 22. During 95 tothe brush 28 of distributor arm 16. s-

this arm wipes over segment 18, which is in line radially with segment 9, a path to ground is provided through the selecting magnet 23, thereby operating this magnet and allowing it to erform its function in recording the charac r being'received. Since the manner in which switches 32 to 36 are operated has already been described in de tail, it will be understool that these switches will be closed in order, as the distributor arm wipes over segments 10 and 19, 11 and 20, the second and third sending intervals switches 33 and 34 res ectively, are closed but since the movah e contacts of pole-changers 43 and 44 do not engage the grounded contacts, rclay 93 is not energized and the selecting magnets 24 and 25 accordingly remain unoperated. Upon closin of switch 35 relay 93 is energized by the ow of current passing through its winding from the source of energy 92 to switch 35 and pole'clmngcr 45 to ground. As the brush 2H now engaged segment .41. current llows from the source of energy 95 tin-(mg?) armature 94., brush 28, segn'wni it and SGlLHll-illg nmguet .26, causlng the latter to operutr. and [mrl'onn its function in recording the character. During the fifth sending inlervul, switch 236 is closed, but since the energizing circuit of relay 93 is open at pole-clmnger l-(i, no inu iulse is transmitted to operate the selecting magnet 27. The men'ner in whticli the stepdrystep distributor at statim': l) is restoredto normal after receiving th group of five cur-' rent impulses, has already been explained and will not be repeated here, The opera tion of relay S3 in addition to performing its function in restoring the distrihuting' mechanism to normal condition also pro rides a path of current flow from the grounded source of energy 96, through mug :net 97, and armature 98 of relay 83 to ground. The operation of this magnet which it will he noted occurs after the sending of each group of impulses may he used for feeding the perforated tape when using on autonmtic transmitter or for performing some similar operatlonwhen the sending is done manually.

For the sake of clearness, connections are '95 shown in the drawing being made directly to the brushes .LT undili of rotary distributor It will, of course he understood that in practice, these coon. .tions are madepen munently to slip ring the brushes of which would in turn be joined electrically to brushes 17 and 2S. I

It may he found that under certain conditions the relay 93 can be dispensed with, in which case, the source of energy 95 is connected directly between brush- 28 and the line wire IF. i \Vhat is claimed is: i

r K) p 1.. In it selecting system, a plurality of stations, 11. pair of line conductors-connecting SilltlStfitlOllS an impulse transmitting mechanism at each station comprising a' grou i of selectively operated contacts; -a

selecting mechanism at each station comprising a group of magnets selectively operated. In accordance with impulses transmitted over a. line conductor by the transmitting mechanism ht another station, and a distribute! at each station operable to connect the transmitting mechanism at that station with one of said line conductors and to connect the selecting mechanism at that station" with the other of said line conductors, one of said distributors including means for inipressing current impulses upon the line circuit for operating said other distributor in unison therewith.

2. In aselecting system, zugplilrality of stations interconnected by a pair of line wires, transmitting and rob/string mechaprimary distributer nisms at each station, a

for connecting the at one of said stations transmitting mechanism at that station with one of said line wires and the receiving mechanism with the other of said line wires, a secondary distributer at a second station or connecting the transmitting mechanism hat station with the line wire with which t e receiving mechanism at said first station is connected and connectin the receiving mechanism at that station with the other (1 means responsive to impulses mpressedupon one of said line distributor to drive secondary distributer in unison there- I with.

- distributer for 3. In a selecting system, a plurality of stations, a pair of line wires extending between the stations, transmitting and selectat each station, means forming a part of one associating the transmitting mechanism located at that station with one of the line wires for the purpose of impressing current impulses upon such line wire, means at the other station responsive to such impulses for driving the distributer at the tributer and means included in said second distributer for unison with said first disassociating said line wire with the selecting mechanism at the second station and for associating the transmitting mechanism at such station wit the other line wire for the purpose of impressing current impulses upon the other line wire to operate the selecting mechanism at said first station. a

4. In a selecting system, a primary and a secondarywstation, a pair of line wires connecting said stations, transmittin and re ceiving apparatus at each of saif stations, a constantly driven distributer at said primary station for connecting said transmitting apparatus thereat to one of said line wires, and said receiving apparatus to said said step-by-step disimpulses,

andi-trans mttin means under the control' of said st AMOS F." DIXON. 

